Wire-stitching machine



June 17, 1930. H. s. ALLEN WIRE STITCHING, MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1927 INVEN TOR /Vowar0 G 4//e/7. BY

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES HOWARD G. ALLEN, NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIG'NOR T0 H. R. BLISS COM- rm, ma, 0]! NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A GORIEOTIOIN' OF NEW Y0? WIRE-STITCHING MACHINE Application filed December 9, 1927. Serial No. 238,755.

This invention relates to a wire stitching I machine, and has to do especially with a stitching machine adapted for placing sealing stitches in a container packed with articles, and the invention is particularly directed to a machine for sealing the so-called cracker caddies.

or similar containers, which are cartons in which crackers, cakes or other articles of pastry are packed.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to place such a container with one side lowermost while placing in one or more of the sealing stitches, and then turn the container over in various other positions with its other sides.

lowermostto place in other sealing stitches. This is objectionable particularly with cakes, cookies or other articles of a delicate nature,

in that the articles are disturbed and the cartons are oftentimes handled roughly and .giickly, resulting in damage to the articles.

ne of the primary objects of this invention is the provision of a machine for sealing such containers while the container is at all times in its proper vertical position, and without involving the necessity of turning the con- I tainer up on its side, or in any other unnatural position.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the machine showlng the stitcher head which is mounted in a horizontal position and showing a cracker caddy in stitching position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing details of the stitcher mechanism with the table and p the guard plate removed for the purpose of exposing the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing details of the anvil and showing the cam mechanism for moving the anvil.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the anvil and container in position to receive a wire stitch with part of the container cut away.

Fig. 5 is adetail of the adjustable mechanism forthe table.

In Fig. 1 the machine is shown as consisting of an upright pedestal which is mounted upon a suitable base (not shown)"i The pedestal carries a, suitable motor 2 for operating a stitcher head 3 through the means of A shaft 5, is

a presser connected to the mechanismof a stitcher head by a suitable gearing, and is enclosed within a housing 6. This connection may consist merely of bevelled gears,

.and it is notthought necessary that these be 4: and the shaft 5, and this clutch is controlled as by means of an actuating member 7, so that an operator can operate the machine intermittently by actuating the member 7 to cause clutching engagement. A suitable foot lever (not shown) can be connected to the member 7 for this purpose.

The stitching is accomplished at the forward end of the projecting housing 6, and at the forward end at this housing is a table 10 upon which a container is adapted to rest. This table is provided with a spring pressed bolt 11 adapted to engage in any one of the notches, in the plate 12. The bolt is retractable by an operating lever 13, against the action of a spring 14,110 permit vertical adjustment of the table.

A suitable cover plate 15 is carried at the forward end of the housing 6 for covering some of the stitching mechanism. Tn Fig. 2 this cover plate'is removed so as to show the member 16, in the nature of a guide, fixed to the forward end of the housing. A reciprocating anvil 17 is slidably carried by this guide member. The shaft 5, which extends through the housing, projects at the forward end thereof and carries a cam 18. The reciprocating anvil is fixed to a support 19, provided in turn with a suitable roller 20 which rides on the cam 18.

A container of the type which this machine I is adapted to seal, is nicely shown in Fig. 4, and it consists of a body 21, having at one or more of its upper edges a downturned fiat22. A relatively shallow cover 23 is provided for the container with the wall of the cover 24 overlapping the flap 22 of the body of e container. 4

Tnorder to insure the cover being in y closed position with respect to the container, head 25 is provided, and this presser head is mounted to reciprocate. For this purpose the presser head is ced by rods 26 which are connected at their lower endsby a yoke 27, the rods being slidably mounted in the guide device 16. This yoke carries a roller 28 which is in engagement with a cam 29 on the shaft 5. (Fig; 3). Coil springs 30 on the rods 26 hold the presser head normally upwardly with the roller 28 in engagement with the cam 29. A s ring 31 holds the movable anvil normally ownwardly with the roller 20 in engagement with the cam 18.

In the operation of the device the table is first adjusted in accordance with the size of the container to be stitched. A container, full of articles, is then placed on the table. The container is then pushed forwardly against the protector-plate 15. At this time the presser head 25 is in raised position, the anvil in lowered position. The machine as a whole is idle. The operator now actuates the connecting member 7, and the shaft 5 is rotated. The cams 18 and 29 respectively.

raise the anvil so that it underlies the turned down flap and the 'cover, as shown in Fig. 4, and the ca1n29 brings the presser head down upon the top of the container. This positively insures that the cover is properly fitted on the container. Immediately following the raising of the anvil and the lowering of the presser head, the stitcher head operates and a wire stitch is placed through the flap 22 and the adjacent portion 24 of'the cover with the ends of the stitch turned over or clenched, by engagement with the anvil. The cycle of operation is completed by the return of-the anvil and presser head to their original positions and by retraction of the mechanism in the stitcher head. The several operations, namely, movement of the anvil, movement of. the presser head, and the actuation of the stitcher head are all properly timed with relation to each other.

If it is desirable to place only one sealing stitch at the side of the container the arrangement may be such that an operator may give one actuating movement to the connecting member 7 thus effecting a single cycle as above. described. If a plurality of stitches are desired, a plurality of cycles can be effect ed and the container may bemoved slightly from right to left or vice versa between each cycle. After one or more stitches have been placed in one side of the box it'is merely necessary to swing the box around while it is resting upon the table 10, thus bringing another s1 d e of the box adjacent to the stitcher mechamsm. This can be done while the presser head and anvil are raised and lowered respectively, and then the stitches can be placedin the said other side.

Claims:

1. A wire stitching machine for stitching a cover onto a container adapted to be filled,

comprising in combination, a stitcher head spsltloned to throw a stitch in a horizontal rection, a table for supportingthe container, a presser head positioned above the table so as to normally clear the top of the container and the cover therefor, means for same is clinched after being ejectedthrough the said portions of the cover and container by the stitcher head.

2. A wire stitching machine comprising in combination, a stitcher head, a table for supporting a container, means for operating the stitcher head, a movable anvil adapted to move into cooperating position with respect to the stitcher head and against which the stitch is thrown to be clinched, a presser head positioned above the container and adapted to move downwardly to engage the top of the container toinsure proper positioning of the container parts to be stitched, and means for moving the anvil and the presser head in timed relation to the operation of the stitcher head. I

3. 'A wire stitching machine comprising in combination, a stitcher head, means for sup porting a container, means for operatingthe stitcher head, a movable anvil adapted to' to move downwardly to engage the topof the container to insure proper positioning of the container parts to be stitched, and means for moving the anvil and the presser head in timed relation to the operation of the stitcher head, said supporting means being adjustable with respect to the stitcher head and presser head to adapt the machine to containers of various sizes.

4. A wire stitching machine for sealing a cover to a container of the type having a down-turned flap along at least one of its upper edges, While flap is overlapped by the cover, comprising in combination means for supporting such container right side up, a

stitcher head positioned adjacent the cover and said down-turned flap, an anvil normally positioned below the flap, a presserhead normally positioned above the container and spaced therefrom, means for operating the stitcher head, means for raising the anvil to position it underneath thedown-turned flap and adjacent portion of the cover, and means for lowering the presser head to position the cover on the'container, all of said means operating in roper timed relation to secure 'a stitch in t e cover and flap while the cover and container are held in proper position.

5. A wire stitching machine 'ior sealing a I cover to a container of the type having a down-turned flap along at least one of its upper edges, which flap is overlapped by the cover, comprising in combination, a table for supporting such container right side up, a stitcher head positioned adjacent the cover and said down-turned fla an anvil normally positioned below the ap, a presser head normally positioned above the container and spaced therefrom, means for operating the stitcher head, means for raising the anvil to position it underneath the down-turned flap and adjacent portion of the cover, and means for lowering the presser head to position the cover on the container, all of said means oper- I ating in proper timed relation to secure a stitch in the cover and flap while the cover and container are held in pro er position, the said table being adjustab e vertically whereby containers of difl'erent sizes can be stitched.

6. A wire stitching machine for sealing a container of the t pe having at least two overlapped parts prO ecting from the body of the container which are adapted to be stitched together, comprising in combination, a

stitcher head, means for supporting the container with the overlapped parts adjacent the stitcher head, an anvil of the blade type, means for moving the anvil so that the same is positioned between the body of the container and the two overlapped parts, and means for actuatingthe stitcher head to place a stitch through said overlapped parts.

7. A wire stitching machine for sealing a container of the type having at least two overlapped parts projecting from the body of the container whlch are adapted to be stitched together, comprising in combination a stitcher head, means for supporting the container with the overlapped parts adjacent the stitcher head, an anvil, means for moving the anvil so that the same is positioned between the body of the container and the two overlapped parts, means for engaging the top of the container to insure proper relative position to the overlapped parts, and means for actuating the stitcher head to place a stitch through said overlapped parts.

8. A wire stitchin machine, comprising in combination a stitc lierhead positioned to throw a stitch ina horizontal direction, means for supporting a container or the like to be stitched, a blade anvil positioned between the stitcher head and the container, means for movably mounting the blade anvil, means for operating the stitcher head, and means operating in timed relation with the stitcher head for moving the blade anvil to and from stitchclenching position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HOWARD G. ALLEN. 

